Centennial girls basketball standout Jayda Curry commits to Cal

Centennial High’s Jayda Curry, who was chosen the Press-Enterprise’s girls basketball player of the year for the 2019-20 season, recently announced she has accepted a scholarship offer to play at Cal.

Curry, a senior guard, revealed her decision Aug. 1 on Twitter. The other schools in Curry’s top five were San Diego State, Utah, Washington and Arizona State, but a couple of things put Cal over top.

“The academic reputation of the school really was a difference,” said Curry, who carries a 4.5 GPA. “And another factor was the head coach (Charmin Smith) is a Black female, and that appealed to me. The entire coaching staff has helped the program improve, and I can’t wait to be part of that development in the future.”

Curry has been Centennial’s top scorer each of her three seasons with the team. As a junior, she set career highs of 22.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per game and knocked down 75 3-pointers, all while playing against top competition. Curry helped the Huskies to 26-6 record, a share of the Big VIII League title and appearances in the CIF Southern Section and CIF State Open Division playoffs.

Centennial coach Martin Woods said Curry’s talent and skill were apparent from the moment he watched her play the summer before her freshman season. However, it is Curry’s work ethic, on and off the court, that has continued to impress Woods over the past three seasons.

“In all my years of coaching, I have never had another player who could outwork Jayda,” Woods said. “She’s a perfectionist, and it’s something that carries through in every aspect of her life. Everything that she touches, she wants to be the absolute best she can be.”

Curry said that work ethic and drive was instilled at an early age.

“That comes from my parents,” Curry said. “They taught me at an early age that you have to work to get the things you want.”

Woods thinks Curry would be a surefire McDonald’s All-American selection if she stood 6-foot or taller. Curry said her 5-6 frame causes her to be overlooked at times, but that also has given her plenty of motivation.

“It’s been that way my entire life, but it’s more fuel to my fire,” Curry said. “I’m just trying to be the best version of me I can be.”

Curry always has been a leader by example, but Woods challenged her to speak up more often. Curry’s growth as a vocal leader is a key reason Centennial had its most successful season, Woods said.

“Jayda has the utmost respect from her teammates, and that’s because she shows that same level of respect for them,” Woods said. “When she set our single-game scoring record (43 points against Windward), her teammates were so excited for her and trying to help her get there. That’s not always the case with star players, but it shows how great of a teammate and leader she is.”